As we approach the start of a new year, we’re announcing an important transition for Conscience – we are seeking a new CEO and a Director of Program Operations to join our leadership team, and take the organization into the future.
Our inaugural CEO, Ryan Merkley, has resigned to pursue a new opportunity, and we are seeking to build upon the foundations he has established with the Board and staff. In our first two years, we’ve built a new organization that addresses an important gap in drug discovery, and we’ve assembled a skilled, passionate, and focused team who are driven to support our mission and have real impact. We’ve built a network, established strong partnerships, and we’ve been a strong steward of the CACHE Challenges, driving the development of AI and computational approaches for drug development.
The foundations of Conscience are now well-established, from systems and operations, to program policies and planning, to a clear and professional brand. While we are sad to see Ryan go, this is a natural and positive moment for Conscience to transition to new leadership. The next CEO will inherit a motivated and expert team and will be able to build on those foundations to take the organization to the next level.
The Board of Directors will be posting the CEO and Director of Program Operations roles this week and will begin interviewing candidates in the new year. Please review and share these roles in your networks, or consider joining our team. In the meantime, we’ve established an interim management committee to ensure continuity and maintain accountability during this transition. This committee will oversee program operations and critical systems. It includes:
- Anke Mueller-Fahrnow, Board Chair
- Karen Mossman, People & Culture Committee Chair
- Aled Edwards, Chief Scientific Officer
- Jeeshan Ifthikar, Chief Financial Officer
- Richard Gold, Strategic Lead, Policy and Training
- Anne Fortier, Vice President, Drug Discovery and Development
Ryan’s leadership has been instrumental in building Conscience from the ground up. Under his guidance, the organization has developed a strong foundation, from our brand and governance to our programmatic work and operations. Thanks to Ryan and our incredible team, we are confident that Conscience is in a strong position to continue its important work while we search for our next CEO. On behalf of the Board, the team, and everyone at Conscience, we extend our heartfelt gratitude to Ryan for his extraordinary contributions. His vision and dedication has set the stage for an exciting future, and we wish him all the best in his next chapter.
As we look ahead, we remain focused on our mission and committed to the values of openness, collaboration, and innovation. We look forward to sharing more updates in the coming weeks.
